Featured Event
Make City Open House
Don't miss out on this one-of-a-kind opportunity to see what goes on inside the ICNC Incubator, Make City! ICNC's 416,000 square foot incubator is home to over 100 small businesses from many industries including food and beverage, apparel, beauty and hair care, creative services, and more! Learn about their products and services and meet the entrepreneurs as you explore the building at your own pace or take part in a guided tour. Join us for a BBQ for networking and socializing.
Thursday, September 27th
Time: 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Location: 320 N. Damen Ave.
Cost: FREE
Register here!
Don't miss out on this one-of-a-kind opportunity to see what goes on inside the ICNC Incubator, Make City! ICNC's 416,000 square foot incubator is home to over 100 small businesses from many industries including food and beverage, apparel, beauty and hair care, creative services, and more! Learn about their products and services and meet the entrepreneurs as you explore the building at your own pace or take part in a guided tour. Join us for a BBQ for networking and socializing.
Thursday, September 27th
Time: 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Location: 320 N. Damen Ave.
Cost: FREE
Register here!
September 2018
Export Compliance 201: Reduce Risk, Cut Costs, Increase Profits
For the second year, we welcome Mike Allocca of Allocca Enterprises for training on how to make your export experience smooth and efficient. This program will help your company be in full compliance with a host of U.S. export/import regulations. Review how you can eliminate dangers & liability of undervaluing products on the commercial invoice and Electronic Export Information (EEI) at foreign customer’s request. Learn the correct way to handle valuations on drop shipments, samples, warranties, repairs and replacements for customs purposes. Finally, review the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), as well as the Successor Liability and how these affect you.
Wednesday, September 19th
Time: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Location: ICNC - 320 N. Damen Ave.
Cost: $75 until September 7th
Register here!
For the second year, we welcome Mike Allocca of Allocca Enterprises for training on how to make your export experience smooth and efficient. This program will help your company be in full compliance with a host of U.S. export/import regulations. Review how you can eliminate dangers & liability of undervaluing products on the commercial invoice and Electronic Export Information (EEI) at foreign customer’s request. Learn the correct way to handle valuations on drop shipments, samples, warranties, repairs and replacements for customs purposes. Finally, review the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), as well as the Successor Liability and how these affect you.
Wednesday, September 19th
Time: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Location: ICNC - 320 N. Damen Ave.
Cost: $75 until September 7th
Register here!
Trademarks, Trade Secrets, & Copyrights: Protecting Special Features in Your Food Business
Have you come up with a creative name, slogan, or logo but don’t know how to protect it? Or are you not quite sure what gives a trademark strength? What are trade secrets? How can you use them to make your food business more successful? What steps must you take to protect a trade secret? Are there any aspects of your food business that are protectable by copyright?
Tuesday, September 25th
Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Location: ICNC - 320 N. Damen Ave.
Cost: $40 non-members, $20 members
Register here!
Have you come up with a creative name, slogan, or logo but don’t know how to protect it? Or are you not quite sure what gives a trademark strength? What are trade secrets? How can you use them to make your food business more successful? What steps must you take to protect a trade secret? Are there any aspects of your food business that are protectable by copyright?
Tuesday, September 25th
Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Location: ICNC - 320 N. Damen Ave.
Cost: $40 non-members, $20 members
Register here!
Hatchery Networking - The Business of Culinary Cannabis
The Hatchery Chicago welcomes a panel of experts addressing the current state of cannabis in the food & beverage space! We've recently seen a "green wave" of product development sweeping the nation, welcoming marijuana and hemp CBD into recipes and formulations from cosmetics to cookies. Following two important bills recently signed into action in Illinois (the opioid-marijuana exchange bill and the Illinois industrial hemp bill), what trends will materialize in the local food & beverage industry? We'll discuss cannabis legal & regulatory matters, health & wellness applications, and of course, commercial culinary creations!
Wednesday, September 26th
Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Location: ICNC - 320 N. Damen Ave.
Cost: $15
Register here!
The Hatchery Chicago welcomes a panel of experts addressing the current state of cannabis in the food & beverage space! We've recently seen a "green wave" of product development sweeping the nation, welcoming marijuana and hemp CBD into recipes and formulations from cosmetics to cookies. Following two important bills recently signed into action in Illinois (the opioid-marijuana exchange bill and the Illinois industrial hemp bill), what trends will materialize in the local food & beverage industry? We'll discuss cannabis legal & regulatory matters, health & wellness applications, and of course, commercial culinary creations!
Wednesday, September 26th
Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Location: ICNC - 320 N. Damen Ave.
Cost: $15
Register here!
October 2018
Your Logo's Great, But How's Your Brand?
When you hear the word "brand", what comes to mind? Is it a logo, a color, a name? The most impactful and successful brands consider elements far outside this basic scope. In this seminar, we'll pull back the curtain to look at what the big brands know about activating loyal customers. Discover how to fully capitalize on your brand and how you can effectively communicate your brand identity to customers, buyers, and investors by using crafty and affordable methods. Attendees will have a first-hand look at what other companies are doing to achieve branding success in the food space.
Wednesday, October 3rd
Time: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Location: ICNC - 320 N. Damen Ave.
Cost: $30 non-members, $15 members
Register here!
When you hear the word "brand", what comes to mind? Is it a logo, a color, a name? The most impactful and successful brands consider elements far outside this basic scope. In this seminar, we'll pull back the curtain to look at what the big brands know about activating loyal customers. Discover how to fully capitalize on your brand and how you can effectively communicate your brand identity to customers, buyers, and investors by using crafty and affordable methods. Attendees will have a first-hand look at what other companies are doing to achieve branding success in the food space.
Wednesday, October 3rd
Time: 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Location: ICNC - 320 N. Damen Ave.
Cost: $30 non-members, $15 members
Register here!
NAFTA: How the North American Free Trade Agreement Benefits Small Businesses
Canada and Mexico are our largest trading partners. Both countries are great to start marketing and selling US-made products and make your first steps into going global. Many companies already ship to and from Canada and Mexico, but run into a variety of problems. Our session will help you analyze and streamline the import / export process for Canada and Mexico.
Thursday, October 11th
Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: ICNC - 320 N. Damen Ave.
Cost: FREE
Register here!
Canada and Mexico are our largest trading partners. Both countries are great to start marketing and selling US-made products and make your first steps into going global. Many companies already ship to and from Canada and Mexico, but run into a variety of problems. Our session will help you analyze and streamline the import / export process for Canada and Mexico.
Thursday, October 11th
Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: ICNC - 320 N. Damen Ave.
Cost: FREE
Register here!
Sensory Science: Lunch & Learn with Griffith Foods
Join Hatchery partner Griffith Foods for an exploratory Sensory Science session! How do we understand the intricacies of human interaction with food? Gain an understanding of every aspect of your consumers’ sensory experience through knowledge of visual clues & appeal, enhanced aromatic perception, flavor mapping, and texture experience. Learn basic tips for evaluating a consumer's emotional response to your product! Light lunch provided for all attendees, courtesy of Griffith Foods!
Friday, October 19th
Time: 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Location: ICNC - 320 N. Damen Ave.
Cost: $20 non-members, $10 members
Register here!
Join Hatchery partner Griffith Foods for an exploratory Sensory Science session! How do we understand the intricacies of human interaction with food? Gain an understanding of every aspect of your consumers’ sensory experience through knowledge of visual clues & appeal, enhanced aromatic perception, flavor mapping, and texture experience. Learn basic tips for evaluating a consumer's emotional response to your product! Light lunch provided for all attendees, courtesy of Griffith Foods!
Friday, October 19th
Time: 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Location: ICNC - 320 N. Damen Ave.
Cost: $20 non-members, $10 members
Register here!
Starting a Food Business
Start your food business today! The Hatchery’s popular introductory course will help you launch your food & beverage company. Learn all about the food entrepreneurship space including industry trends, required licensing, certification, financing, and branding. Each attendee will receive a business basics checklist to get started on the right track. An experienced business attorney will also be joining to cover the many options for structuring your business entity: limited liability company, corporation, “S” corp, sole proprietorship, and partnership. Which structure is right for your venture? Learn the legal implications of each, so you can make an informed decision.
Thursday, October 25th
Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Location: ICNC - 320 N. Damen Ave.
Cost: $40
Register here!
Start your food business today! The Hatchery’s popular introductory course will help you launch your food & beverage company. Learn all about the food entrepreneurship space including industry trends, required licensing, certification, financing, and branding. Each attendee will receive a business basics checklist to get started on the right track. An experienced business attorney will also be joining to cover the many options for structuring your business entity: limited liability company, corporation, “S” corp, sole proprietorship, and partnership. Which structure is right for your venture? Learn the legal implications of each, so you can make an informed decision.
Thursday, October 25th
Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Location: ICNC - 320 N. Damen Ave.
Cost: $40
Register here!
Sponsor Events
Event sponsorship presents the ICNC members with unique opportunities to showcase their business. Contact the ICNC for current event sponsorship opportunities for your business.
